Hendersonville Sister Cities to host Russian visitors

5 delegates to Open World program will be in WNC Sept. 6-14

Published: Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 1:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 1:49 p.m.

Five delegates from various Russian towns and cities will arrive in Hendersonville on Saturday, Sept. 6, as part of the Open World program.

Hendersonville Sister Cities will host the Russian delegation through Sept. 14, and the delegates will stay in private homes and be shuttled to various events by their local hosts.

The theme of the Open World program is “Government Accountability and Environment.”

Delegates will visit organizations such as the City of Hendersonville and Henderson County, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Swannanoa, the Environmental and Conservation Organization and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. They also will take an ecological tour of Lake Jocassee in South Carolina and visit Asheville Glass Center, a glass-making studio powered with methane gas from a nearby landfill.

Managed by the Open World Leadership Center, a support agency of the United States Congress, the Open World program is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia by developing a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America's democratic, accountable government and free-market system.

The Open World program works to link members of Congress to Eurasian leaders and is an instrument for Americans engaged in citizen diplomacy.

“Members of the HSC board have worked to create both an educational and a recreational program for our Russian visitors,” said Karen Hultin, president of Hendersonville Sister Cities. “We want them to experience American home life and appreciate WNC's agriculture and beautiful natural resources as well as learn about democratic government and how we work to enhance business and the environment as American citizens.”

Hendersonville Sister Cities is a nonprofit organization formed in 2007 to foster and celebrate international cooperation and understanding and local economic growth through education, exploration of other cultures, travel, and social interaction. Almuñécar, Spain, is Hendersonville's Sister City.

For more information about Hendersonville Sister Cities, visit the website at www.hendersonvillesistercities.com. For more information on the Open World program, please visit http://www.openworld.gov.

<p>Five delegates from various Russian towns and cities will arrive in Hendersonville on Saturday, Sept. 6, as part of the Open World program. </p><p>Hendersonville Sister Cities will host the Russian delegation through Sept. 14, and the delegates will stay in private homes and be shuttled to various events by their local hosts.</p><p>The theme of the Open World program is “Government Accountability and Environment.” </p><p>Delegates will visit organizations such as the City of Hendersonville and Henderson County, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Swannanoa, the Environmental and Conservation Organization and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. They also will take an ecological tour of Lake Jocassee in South Carolina and visit Asheville Glass Center, a glass-making studio powered with methane gas from a nearby landfill.</p><p>Managed by the Open World Leadership Center, a support agency of the United States Congress, the Open World program is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia by developing a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America's democratic, accountable government and free-market system. </p><p>The Open World program works to link members of Congress to Eurasian leaders and is an instrument for Americans engaged in citizen diplomacy.</p><p>“Members of the HSC board have worked to create both an educational and a recreational program for our Russian visitors,” said Karen Hultin, president of Hendersonville Sister Cities. “We want them to experience American home life and appreciate WNC's agriculture and beautiful natural resources as well as learn about democratic government and how we work to enhance business and the environment as American citizens.”</p><p>Hendersonville Sister Cities is a nonprofit organization formed in 2007 to foster and celebrate international cooperation and understanding and local economic growth through education, exploration of other cultures, travel, and social interaction. Almuñécar, Spain, is Hendersonville's Sister City.</p><p>For more information about Hendersonville Sister Cities, visit the website at www.hendersonvillesistercities.com. For more information on the Open World program, please visit http://www.openworld.gov.</p>